Clod. You'll fay nothing of what I have told you? Britt. No, no, not a Word.

Clod. For you must know, Mr. Lovemore charg'd me, when he fent me, to fay never a Word.

Britt. Is the Gentleman's Name Lovemore, fay you?

Clod. Why, do you know him?

Britt. Oh, very well; a tall, proper, handfome Man, and always very generous.

Clod. The fame, the fame.

Britt. And lives juft

Clod. At the lower end of this Street on t'other fide of the way, over against the Golden Ball.

I find you do know him.

Britt. Know him! Why he's my very good Friend. A Pox of all fuch Friendship.

(Afide. Clod. Odd, he's a fine Gentleman as ever I met with in all my Life.

Brit. Yes, yes, he's a very fine Gentleman indeed. I wou'd the Devil had him.

(Afide. Clod. He gave me this Piece of Gold to carry a Letter for him, which I. deliver'd to the Gentlewoman of that House but now.

Britt. Oh, he's a very civil Gentleman; I have been long acquainted with him.

Well, and what Answer did you get

A very pleafing one, I'll warrant you.

Clod. Softly, you must not tell a Syllable of this to the Husband, nor that fhe'll fend my Mafter an Answer, as foon as ever the can get the Cuckold out of the way. But no body must know. You underftand me.

Britt. Oh, I'll keep your Counsel, never fear. Clod. She bad me tell him, fhe'd meet him this Eve ning, if the can.

Britt. Ay.

Clod

Clod. And that she's very fenfibly ob-ob-obliged to him, for his Kindness to her.

Britt. Ay, no doubt on't.

Clod. And takes it mighty kind of him.

Britt. She does.

;

Clod. Odd, fhe's a pretty Bit and then there's a handfome Maid that waits upon her, and is Affiftant to her in these Matters, one Dam-Damaris, I think they call her.

Britt. Ay, like enough.

Clod. And you must know I like her hugely. She gave me Two or Three fuch loving Looks, that I am half perfuaded the likes me. So that if my Master gets acquainted with the Mistress, I intend to strike in with her Maid.

Britt. Oh, all but Reason.

Clod. But no body muft know of it.

You understand me.

Well, good bye to you. My Mafter will wonder I ftay fo long. Be fure you fay nothing now. You understand me.

Britt. Yes, yes, I do fo; farewel.

(Exit.

Well, Barnaby Brittle, now thou fee'ft what comes of marrying of a Gentlewoman. I believe thou wilt be married to fomething else in a little time, if thou art not fo already. (Points to his Head.

had.

Enter Sir Peter Pride and Lady Pride.

Man

Sir Pet. You seem diforder'd, Son-in-law. Britt. And I have Reafon to be fo, if ever any (Walks to and fro in a hurry. Lady. Good lack! And why fo fhort, Son-in-law? Britt. I fhall grow taller in a little time, Good Mother-in-law, if this Trade holds.(Points to his Head. Sir Peter. Explain your Meaning, Son-in-law. Britt. 'Twill explain it felf fhortly. (Walks up and down. C 2

Lady

Lady. What, is that Hat of yours nail'd on? Do you know who we are? And the Respect due to Perfons of our Quality, good Son-in-law?

Britt. Ah! wou'd I did not, but now I know to my Sorrow, fince you will have me fpeak, good Mother-in-law.

1. Lady. Will you never leave that faucy Word, of calling me Mother-in-law?

Britt. Good Lord! Why what must I call you

then?

Lady. You ought to fay, Madam and Sir, when 'you fpeak to us; or when you speak of us, you Thould fay, Sir Peter, and her Ladyship: For tho' you have married our Daughter, yet there is a great deal of distinction betwixt you and Perfons of our Rank and Quality.

Sir Peter. Go to, it is enough for me to let him know his Duty, without your Inftructions. Sure, I best know my felf what to do. Son-in-law, you are an impudent Fellow to use us at this rate. How of ten must we put you in mind of your Duty and Refpect, e'er you'll know it? Hence-forward learn to behave your felf as you ought, or you shall hear on't in other fort of Terms. You must not think because you've married our Daughter, that we will be fatisfied with fuch indifferent Ceremonies and Duty you might have paid, had you married one equal with your felf; nor ought you indeed to fay, your Wife, when you speak of our Daughter.

Britt. Good lack!

Wife?

Is not your Daughter my

Sir Peter. She is. But you ought not to call her fo..

Britt. I know that too well, now 'tis too late. I'd give a thousand Pounds the were not my Wife.

Sir Peter. At it again? I tell you, tho' you have married her, yet as the is our Daughter, you must not treat her after that familiar way. Britt

Britt. You make me mad

my Wife?

Is not my Wife

Sir Peter. I tell you, tho' fhe be your Wife, you must not call her fo. When you fpeak of her, as being our Daughter, you muft fay, Madam.

Britt. Well, Madam, then fince it must be Madam, I did not care if the were a Dutchefs, fo I were but fairly rid of her.

Here's fuch a ftir about your, Gentility, and your Ho nour: But I believe if I had not married your Daughter, and with my good Money redeem'd your Eftate, your Gentility had been left in the Mud for all your great Families, and your nice Honour.

Sir Peter. Then do you think it no Honour to be ally'd to the Worshipful Family of the Pride's..

Lady. And to the Honourable Family of the Laycock's? Go, Clown. 'Tis a Shame our Daughter fhould be wedded to fuch a Brute. We have been told at what a rate you treat her. What is the Reafon of it, Son-in-law?

Britt. Why, you shall know, good Mother-in-law.
Lady. Again at that affronting way!

How often have you been told to fay, Madam ?

Britt. Well, Madam, then: I always forget these fine Words. But, Madam, if you wou'd please, Madam, to hear me fpeak, you fhall know, Madam, whether I have not Caufe to wifh, I never had feen my Wi your Daughter, Madam, if I muft call her nothing else.

Sir Peter. Well, Sir, proceed.

Britt. Why, in the firft Place, I am in a fair way to be made a Cuckold, if I am not one already. Sir Peter. How, Son-in-law? Have a Care what you fay.

Britt. Believe me, what I fay, I can make appear.
Sir Peter. Do it then presently.

Britt. Why, fhe has just now receiv'd a Letter from her Gallant, and made an Appointment to meet him this Evening; and judge how fmall a time a Pair of Horns are a grafting.

Sir Peter. How came you to know this, Son-inlaw?

Britt. Why, juft now I caught the Fellow, that brought her the Letter, coming out of my Houfe, and not knowing who I was, I got out of him all the Bufinefs; and that his Mafter, Mr. Lovemore

Sir Peter. Is that the Gentleman's Name ?

Britt. Yes, fo his Man told me. I have often feen him taking a View about my House, and looking up to the Windows; and 'tis plain what his Defigns

were.

Lady. If this be true, I'll tear her Eyes out.

Sir Peter. Nay, if it be, this good Sword (never yet drawn in vain) fhall do you Right. Where is the, Son-in-law.

Britt. Within, I'll warrant, ftudying what Excufe to make, to get abroad, and meet her Gallant. Lady. I'll call her to answer for her felf. Be fure you wrong her not, Son-in-law.

(Exit Lady. Britt. Nay, nay, I make no doubt but he is to be believ'd before me; and the ne'er wants Cunning to bring her felf off, I'll fay that for her, tho' the Cafe be ne'er fo plain.

Sir Peter. By this good Light, if the dares be falfe to her Marriage Vows, the dies; and that bafe Rifler of her Fame fhall bear her Company.

Britt. Oh! Here he comes; that Spoiler of my, Honour; that's he.

Enter Lovemore. Sir Peter meets him. They ftare each other i'th Face..

Sir Peter. Do you know who I am, Sir?

Love. I don't well remember I ever had much Ac

quaintance with you.

Sir